At Night's End Read online

  “Damn it.” He slammed his fist against the armrest. “It would be nice to have one thing go right. Hope I can remember how to land this thing.” He studied the controls and then poked at a few buttons, praying his memories of the long-ago lessons were accurate. “All I have to do is get to the ground in one piece then I can find a way to track down Rissa’s contacts.”

  Alarms blared as the view screen flared with the heat of reentry. Lateef pushed more buttons and the sound stopped. He heaved a sigh of relief until a high pitch whistle broke the silence. Curses flooded out of his mouth as he examined the control panel in front of him. With a whispered prayer he pushed a series of buttons then checked the restraints and held on as the life pod shook.

  The temperature in the cabin rose and the scent of burning metal contaminated the air.

  “Just hold together long enough to land and let me get out.” The shriek of tortured metal plowing through air drowned his words out. Flames flashed past the viewport.

  The ship began a slow roll before he could wrestle control away from the malfunctioning autopilot. “Please remember how to land. I’m not ready to die.”

  The ground grew larger, pines trees and giant rocks expanding to fill his view. Just as he was certain he would plow into the side of a mountain, the ship rapidly decelerated, hovering for a second.

  Lateef heaved a sigh of relief and had just enough time to think he would be okay when the ship lost power and fell to the ground like an anchor in deep water.

  Chapter Two

  Dani Hamilton’s hands shook with a momentary pang of unexpected nervousness as she looked out of the large, bedroom window. Concern about evil roaming in the night was stupid. Evil had already destroyed her life, and yet she still lived. Scratching the ears of the dog beside her loosened the knot of anxiety that threatened to send her into another spiral of panic down to depression.

  “You have got to settle down, you neurotic, little fluff-brain.”

  The agitated sheltie threw Dani a glance before staring once again into the darkness. A rumbling growl shook her small frame.

  Aspen leaves shimmered in the thin wind, but nothing disturbed the moonlit mountainside. Carl, her late husband, had loved summer nights like this. They would sit on the porch with a glass of Malbec and discuss the grand party to reveal their new home to his politician father. She wrenched her thoughts away from that memory. The accident had taken her husband and her precious baby from her. Her strangled sob made the dog lean against her with a soft whine.

  She drew in a deep breath, forcing the pain away, and ruffled the anxious sheltie’s fur. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, Abby.”

  The dog had been on edge for hours, barking at creatures only she could see or hear. At times like these she wished the dog used actual words. Her one-sided conversations were usually enough to banish her loneliness, but sometimes she longed to hear another voice.

  “Maybe I should take you over to herd the Saunders’ goats. That should wear you out enough to sleep for a week. Especially if you piss off the buck again.”

  Her elderly neighbors raised goats and sold the cheese, combined with herbs they bought from her. She knew they worried about her. If she took the dog over there, they would politely force her to explain the dark circles under her eyes and then try to find a way to help her sleep. She needed to stay alone.

  Her father-in-law still searched for her. Carl had been destined to continue the family legacy until the accident changed everything. Dani refused to be a prisoner to someone else’s dream. She feared her father-in-law wouldn’t hesitate to hurt anyone in his path, so she kept everyone away. She couldn’t handle the possibility of any more ‘accidents.’

  Dani pulled the curtains closed with a decisive snap and limped to her side of the king-size bed. “Come lay down, you mangy mutt. I need some sleep tonight. And that won’t happen if you keep barking at the wind. We have a mushroom hunt tomorrow.”

  She picked up the bottle of pain pills and hesitated before taking one. The dog’s neurotic behavior was not her only problem. Her injured leg ached, and she needed sleep. She shuddered and pulled the worn coverlet around her shoulders. The relentless dream hounding her was the same every single night since she’d escaped the hospital with the help of friends who understood her need to be free. The pain medication usually made the dream worse, but sometimes she had to take the risk.

  Abby hopped up on the bed to lick her face, and Dani hugged the dog with a sigh. The dream had changed last night when a new character appeared. Model handsome with shoulder-length, midnight black hair that framed a clean-shaven, square jaw, he made her pulse race with forgotten desire. The face was young, but his eyes were ancient. Those warm, sea-blue depths held a mischievous twinkle, when he didn’t appear to be delirious. A twinge of guilt writhed in her belly. Carl had never been mischievous. The son of an ambitious man, he had followed in his father’s footsteps, which left no time for distractions, silly or otherwise.

  Abby gave a final woof and curled up in her normal spot with a doggie sigh of contentment. Dani echoed the sigh. If there had been something dangerous in the dark, the high-strung dog never would have settled down.

  “Let’s see if you can keep the bad guys away tonight, okay?” She caressed the dog’s head and murmured the almost-prayer as her body relaxed.

  “Please help me!” Desperation began to break through the dream lethargy gripping her body. “Come find me! I need your help.”

  She looked beyond the dream man’s pain-twisted face to see the familiar, shadowy figure grinning at her. The gaunt shape seemed to grow more solid as it fed on her pain. The dark-haired stranger spoke, and the shadow abruptly fled.

  “Go away!” Her heart thudded painfully in her chest and she broke out in a cold sweat as the entire world vanished into a bright light.

  ****

  Dani bolted upright, screaming soundlessly as she clutched her pillow with a death grip. Guilt over killing Carl and Caitlin knotted her guts. Abby whined and licked Dani’s tear-damp face. The dog looked out the window and rushed back to check on her again, repeating the process numerous times before Dani could manage to get her gut-wrenching sobs under control. She pulled herself out of bed, oblivious to her stiff muscles, to look out the window. Sheer iron willpower kept her upright as her body shook to the thud of her heart. She pushed the curtains aside and was startled to see a bright light moving across the pre-dawn sky. The spot slowed and appeared to settle higher up the mountain before it vanished.

  Dani ignored the whispers for help in her mind. The intriguing masculine voice had to be her imagination even if she could remember the feel of his skin under her fingers. At least the shadow that delighted in her intense sorrow vanished, making it far easier than normal for her to shake off the remnants of the nightmare.

  “Won’t get back to sleep now. The light had to be a helicopter flown by a maniac in the dark. Might as well get some coffee and watch the sun rise.”

  By the time she was dressed and on her second cup of coffee, Dani was restless. She heard a voice in her mind begging her to hurry, but that made no sense. The dream man had just been a figment of her imagination. Heat flooded her at the memory of his strong personality. It was a good thing he wasn’t real. She had to be alone.

  She finally gave in to the anxiety and packed some food and water. She and Abby would go up the mountain to find the wild mushrooms she needed for the Folly Springs Founder’s Day celebration breakfast. Anna White Bear had guilted her into catering again. On a whim she tossed in a first aid kit and briefly wished she had accepted the cellphone Sheriff Charlie White Bear tried to give her. She gave a wry chuckle and added an extra blanket. Probably no reception up there anyway. She looked at the pile of supplies tucked into her supply baskets. What are you preparing for? You’re only going to spend a couple of hours looking for mushrooms, not camp out for a week.

/>   Dani tried to unpack, but every time she touched an item her hands shook with a nameless dread. Finally, she stowed the gear in her ATV, waited for Abby to hop into the passenger seat and headed up the mountain. Knots coiled and uncoiled in her stomach as she urged the little vehicle to go faster as a sense of urgency gripped her.

  “There’s no reason to rush. The mushrooms won’t run away if I’m later than I plan to be.” She snorted, shaking her head to clear it. She had lived alone in these mountains for almost a year. When the faint reminders of the past became too strong, she slept under the stars. Anything to avoid that black pit of despair. In the middle of the worst dark episode, Sheriff Charlie White Bear had deposited a young ball of fur in her lap to remind her she still had responsibilities. The presence of the sheltie had helped to shorten each of the subsequent dark periods. She blinked back the tears stinging her eyes as memories of her sweet toddler crossed her mind. Several deep breaths stopped the tears. Breathing was the one facet of her life she had any control over. Well, that and refusing to allow her father-in-law to use her tragedy to advance his political career. Keep breathing and moving. Then she would control her own fate. Carl had been the last hope to carry on the family legacy, and she refused to take his place, no matter what pressure his father brought to bear. Especially since he insisted that she should have been the one to die in the crash.

  Abby threw her a look, barked once and strained forward in the seat, her stare focused on the trail ahead. The pointed nose lifted high as she sniffed the cool air and the slowly wagging tail brushed against Dani’s arm like an intermittent windshield wiper.

  “What is it?” Dani stopped the ATV as she studied the ground ahead. This wasn’t the path she’d intended to take. The silence of the mountain soothed her soul, so she left the engine off. The dog looked around and stared at Dani reassuringly before once again staring straight ahead.

  “You in charge today?”

  The dog’s tail wagged faster.

  “You’re far too bossy for a dog, you know? I don’t know why you think I’ll do what you say.”

  Dani tried to recognize the trail and Abby bumped her arm. Could the dog have guided her in the opposite direction of where she had planned to go?

  Abby took advantage of her distraction to sneak a long tongue against Dani’s ear, shocking her out of her daze.

  “Gross.” Dani rubbed her ear against her shoulder to wipe the slobber off. “I’m not sure what’s gotten into you, but it’s too late to hit the creek now. The afternoon thunderstorm is already gathering. Can’t believe I was distracted enough to take the wrong trail.”

  The dog’s ears perked up and with a quick bark she bolted out of the ATV, racing off the trail.

  Dani heard faint shouts for help and hurried toward the sound. She ignored the warning twinge in her back. Now was not the time to worry about her own persistent injuries. Someone was in trouble.

  She rounded a large boulder overlooking a shallow gully and found her dog at the bottom, snuggled up against a stranger. Dani halted abruptly and hissed as her leg gave a warning spasm.

  The stranger slumped against a log, his head hanging so all she could see was a mass of sweat-soaked, black hair. His outfit was a cross between medical scrubs and a military uniform made of a dark green fabric. Between that and the wholly inappropriate shoes, it was obvious he wasn’t a lost hiker. His shoulders rose and fell with each breath, so she knew he was alive.

  “Are you okay?” Concern overcame her reluctance to get involved. She couldn’t leave an injured stranger alone.

  The man didn’t move, even when Abby licked his face.

  Dani studied the terrain to find the easiest way down the steep slope. She could climb down, but there was no way she was getting back up with a wounded man the way her own injuries were throbbing. Never should have run after that dog. I’ll pay for that exercise for weeks.

  “I’m going to go get some rope. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Abby barked her approval. Dani slowly made her way back to her vehicle. This is getting stranger and stranger. If the dog starts talking, I’ll have to check myself in for a psych eval. Maybe it’s just a bad reaction to the pain pills and I’m still asleep. She climbed into the driver’s seat and her left calf cramped violently.

  Tears stung her eyes as she stretched her toes up and rubbed at the knotted muscle. She was awake and this was all real. As soon as the pain subsided, she carefully drove the little vehicle as close to the ravine as she could.

  The huddled figure remained motionless as Abby bounded up the slope to greet her. Dani hooked a rope to the winch and grabbed a blanket and the first aid kit. She carefully made her way down the gully, holding tightly to the rope as loose shale shifted beneath her feet.

  Once at the bottom, Dani squatted beside the figure, pushing the excited dog away.

  “Are you okay?” She touched his shoulder.

  He shuddered and slowly lifted his head. He took a deep breath and winced, clutching his side.

  “Shit, that’s blood.” Dani dropped the first aid kit and leaned forward to examine his side. “What happened? I have to go get help. Will you be okay while I’m gone?”

  Words tumbled from her mouth in a torrent. Her pulse pounded as flashes of a mangled car, broken glass, and puddles of blood filled her vision. Her babbling increased until a warm hand gripped her arm.

  “There is no need for you to get help. I will be okay with the proper rest. I merely need a safe space to sleep and heal.”

  The look in his sea-blue eyes sent shivers down her spine. He seemed to see right through her, straight into her soul. She froze, waiting for the condemnation she knew would come. If he could see her soul, he would know she was evil and wouldn’t want her help.

  “I only need shelter for a few days.” His speech was hesitant, as if he had to search to find the right word. He blinked, and she was released from his spell.

  Abby nudged her arm aside, demanding attention, and she stroked the dog’s silky head as she finally took a closer look at the mysterious stranger. Shoulder-length, wavy, black hair framed a clean-shaven face marred by dirt and bruises across the high cheekbones. A jagged cut stretched along his left temple. Her heart slammed in her chest.

  “It’s you. You were in my dreams. How can you be real? Who are you? How are you here?” Once again, her questions spilled in a torrent of words.

  “I am Lateef D’Oro.” His answer stopped her babbling.

  Questions buzzed like hornets in her mind, too fast for her to ask any of them. His gaze caught hers and time slowed as she fell into those peaceful depths. Her breathing synchronized with his. What is happening to me? How can I feel so safe with a stranger?

  Abby bumped her shoulder before plopping down onto her belly with her long nose across the man’s out-stretched legs. I’ve never seen her take to a stranger like this. She usually barks and hides behind me.

  “Dogs like me.” The man answered her unspoken question. He laid his hand across Abby’s back to gently stroke her fur.

  “What happened to you?”

  His gaze flickered as if he searched for a good story. “I was hiking, and I slipped.” He didn’t look at her.

  “Right. You went hiking dressed like this?” Dani draped a blanket over his shoulders before digging into the first aid kit for gauze pads and tape to staunch the trickle of blood oozing through his shirt. She couldn’t shake the bone-deep feeling that she had met this man before. But that had been a dream, hadn’t it?

  Red seeped into the man’s cheeks, and she decided to leave the questions for later. Thunder grumbled, and she glanced at the quickly gathering clouds. The storm would hit soon. The need for action focused her attention.

  “Do you think you can climb up the slope with the rope? I can help a little, but my leg and back are…” She bit off the explanation, hating herself for making excus
es. “If you can’t, I’ll go get help.”

  “I will be able to get to your vehicle.”

  ****

  Dani had several opportunities to doubt his optimism. But he was stubborn, and she helped him into her home as the first drops of the regular afternoon thunderstorm fell.

  “Thank you for letting me stay with you until I am stronger.”

  Dani helped him sit on the edge of the bed in a never used guestroom.

  “You need a doctor.” Her thoughts moved at the speed of molasses in winter as she pulled his shoes and shirt off. “I should call an ambulance.”

  “I will be okay once I get some sleep. There is no need to go to any further effort on my account.”

  Dani stared at the angry bruises that marred his well-toned chest and back, trying to decide what to do. Carl’s clothes would hang on the taller, thinner stranger, but at least they weren’t coated in blood. He didn’t seem strong enough to take a shower on his own. She left to gather clean clothes and a bowl of warm water.

  As she gently washed the blood and dirt from Lateef’s face and torso, she was surprised the numerous scratches now appeared days old. The only wound that looked fresh was the hole through his side, which was weeping small amounts of blood-tinged fluid. Now the cut on his forehead looked a week-old, far more healed than the first time she saw him in the gully.

  ‘I am a fast healer.’

  The words drifted through Dani’s mind and questions about the nature of Lateef’s injuries slipped away. The formless panic that had become a constant presence was gone along with the sense of surveillance by the shadow figure of her nightmares.

  Maybe I do need a human companion? Whatever, I’ll enjoy the peace while it lasts. We’ll see what happens when he’s gone. A flash of pain shot through her at the thought of him leaving. Stupid because she wanted to be alone.